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ITV Report

16 July 2014 at 9:32am

Boris Johnson steps into bitter row which threatened to torpedo planned opening of a new school

Boris Johnson has stepped into the bitter row which threatened to torpedo the planned opening of a new school. London's mayor has secured a deal to allow Fulham Boys School to open its doors at the start of the new term in September.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Credit: PA

The school was caught in the crossfire of a political battle between Labour and Conservatives following May's local council elections.

The government withdrew funding for the free school when plans for a permanent site were thrown into doubt by Hammersmith & Fulham Council's new Labour leaders.

FBS was due to move into a closure-threatened local authority primary school but the council may now keep it open.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Credit: PA

Boris Johnson says he's arranged for FBS to stay in temporary premises until 2017 and has promised to find the school a permanent home.

Boris Johnson said his intervention meant the government would now release funding for FBS:

I am delighted we have been able to find a solution which allows the Fulham Boys School to open as planned this September.

I know that parents and pupils have endured a dreadful couple of weeks but this agreement means there will be a Fulham Boys School up and running from this September.